Carl Sagan used to say that we are made of whiz stuff and nonsense , but the law of similarity between humans and stars might not stop at the element we are made of .
US researchers have discovered that a biological structure known as the endoplasmic reticulum found within human cells is remarkably exchangeable to slow nuclear matter establish in neutron star topology . The volute construction looks like a multi - story parking garage , with evenly mold sheets connected by what look like ramps .
Although remarkably similar in physical body , the underlying physics is very different . Cell structures germinate to make biologic process substantially suited to the environment , while neutron stars are fantastically dense object made of degenerate matter .
A study describing the findings is published inPhysical Review C.
Helical structure is found both in cells ( bequeath ) and neutron star ( correct ) . UC Santa Barbara
“ For neutron stars , the strong nuclear forcefulness and the electromagnetic forcefulness make what is basically a quantum - mechanically skillful job , ” study co - author Greg Huber of UC Santa Barbara explained in astatement . “ In the DoI of cell , the force play that hold together membranes are fundamentally entropic and have to do with the minimization of the overall innocent energy of the system . At first glance , these could n’t be more different . ”
The cell structures are about a nanometre in length , while the interactions that mould the neutron maven are a million prison term small .
“ visualise very similar form in such strikingly different system hint that the zip of a organization may depend on its shape in a childlike and worldwide way , ” co - author Charles Horowitz from Indiana University add .
The study play up how several biological structures might have astrophysical counterparts . computing gadget model of the complex purgative within neutron star have shown a variety of rummy embodiment commonly known as nuclear pasta . Among those , there are tubes ( spaghetti ) , sheets ( lasagne ) , and these curious “ sheets with ramp ” structures .
“ They see a variety of shapes that we see in the cellular phone , ” Huber explained . “ We see a tubular meshwork ; we see parallel canvas . We see sheets connected to each other through topological defects we call Terasaki ramp . So the parallels are moderately deep . ”
The researchers add that they hope that this will begin a deeper looking at at the connections between these two entrancing subjects .
